Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Prince Adetunji Femi Fadina has said deplorable roads and poor infrastructure are major hindrances to tourism development in Nigeria, particularly in Otta, the commercial nerve of Ogun State.
Fadina, who is a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s tourism sector, made this known during a chat with journalists at his Dinat Consulting office in Ota, Ogun State.
According to him, Nigeria is endowed with numerous tourism attraction sites spread across the country. Road transportation is the commonest means of transportation within Nigeria and good road infrastructure is required for smooth and safe motor vehicle movement.
As such, a good transportation network is imperative for promoting tourism in Nigeria. Although Nigeria has expansive road networks, they are in very poor condition because of the extent of damage and lack of maintenance and are mostly not motor vehicle conducive.
He said, “These impediments affect tourism in Nigeria and consequently impacting on the country’s growth and development. This media chat looks at the poor road quality in Ogun State and Nigeria as an impediment to tourism growth in Nigeria.”
Fadina also offered solution and recommendations on how to repair and maintain roads in order to promote tourism, safety, tourism development and ultimately, tourism sustainability.
Speaking further on deplorable state of roads, he said, “In Nigeria, road transportation is expected to enhance cultural, economic and social interactions.
“Unfortunately, the road infrastructure and facilities are poor and this impacts of the growth and development of tourism sector in Nigeria. This is a serious dilemma and a huge obstacle. Tourism is defined as “a recreational activity that takes place in leisure areas and usually includes both recreation and tourism.”
Fadina expounded that tourism has become a popular global leisure activities, which is a service based industry consisting of a number of tangible and intangible elements. The tangible elements include basic infrastructure such as transportation, accommodation and tourist sites while the intangible elements are education, culture and relaxation.
“Hence, the absence or lack of basic infrastructure such as good roads would make the tour of in any destination to be unsafe and uniteresting and as such tourists would experience a failure to receive quality tourism services as required by their distinctive needs and wants.”
While speaking on tourism potentials in the state, Fadina said “From Ota, the gatecity of the Gateway State, through the inner towns, cities and communities in Ogun State is endowed with rich limitless bounty of nature’s goodness for real tourists savour. Ogun is one state in Nigeria that has a complete tourism product for the enjoyment of travelers irrespective of their social bracket.
“As you go about your visit to our land, let me encourage you to make sure you enjoy the ravaging tourist destinations on offer everywhere you turn in Ogun State.
From Ota, the cradle of egungun and the home of Bishop Ajayi Crowther where the Bible was translated into Yoruba language to Ososa, the home of the father of Nigerian theatre, Chief Hubert Ogunde, to Ake, the homestead of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, through the Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode and our various kingship and traditional institutions, some of which date as far as 1621, to our breathtaking topography and the rustic rural settlements that constitute a significant part of our communities.
“Remember there is only one adire fabric in the world. There is only one Imeko in the world. There is only one Ososa in the world. There is only one Ijegba in the world. There is only one Olumo Rock in the world. There is only one birthplace of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the world. There is only one burial site of the Queen of Sheba in the world. There is indeed only one cradle of egungun in the world – Ota, Aworin land. All these unique sites and expressions are domiciled here on our land. Here in our state; here in Ogun. How will your visit be complete without experiencing these?
“While you are here, be sure to taste our cuisine and listen to some pristine live music played at various centres, pubs and clubs that dot our cities. And if you are a golfer, you may want to tee off at the only golf course in the world where you see the entire eighteen holes from a single point.”
